Chiefs Coach Says He Wanted to Draft Jamaal Charles With the Cardinals

by Joel Thorman on Dec 28, 2009 4:50 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has said in the past he was familiar with Jamaal Charles coming out of college. Today, he said he wanted to draft him in 2008 while with the Arizona Cardinals.

Haley said while with the Arizona Cardinals he spent an extended period of time talking with him at the NFL Combine.

"Mo [Carthon] and I had been together and we watched a lot of tape on him," Haley said. "We took a lot of time with him and thought we had a chance to get him there. We thought he had a chance to be a good back.

The Chiefs used the 73rd selection in the draft on Charles. The Cardinals were picking 81st.

"Some of these guys just don't know until they're under the fire," he said.

Haley wouldn't say whether Charles had exceeded his expectations this season but starting out as a backup, I don't know how he could have done much better in the time allotted.

"Jamaal's the one that continues to push the expectations and that's good," he said. "I think that's what has everybody excited."

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hope JC can achieve over 1000 yrd this season

to end the year with a positive note

by 72chiefs on Dec 28, 2009 5:06 PM CST reply actions

I don't know if I buy this.

Haley wanted to draft Charles, but continually started LJ at running back until he was forced out of Kansas City?

by Sam D on Dec 28, 2009 5:08 PM CST reply actions

Good point

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Dec 28, 2009 5:16 PM CST up reply actions

charles is also only 22 years old...maybe he wanted to test him first putting him inactive, fixing the fumble problem...

by SDChief on Dec 28, 2009 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

while still not perfect

i think he’s a lot better at protecting the ball then he was in the past so there maybe something to that. haley has always been about proving that you deserve your spot on the team, he very well could have told JC that until he learned to hold on to the ball he wouldn’t sniff the field. while i’m sure the LJ situation probably sped things up a bit, i think haley planned on eventually making JC the starter sometime this year.

UCrawford will eventually calm down and realize that Haley isn't a bad coach.
Will embrace the Fire Haley Bandwagon if we lose to the raiders by more then a TD...
..But we aren't going to lose.
LJ will not land in Pittsburgh
The Chiefs will not be the number one pick in this years draft
The Chiefs first pick of the draft will NOT be a OL
Thinks UCrawford just needs a hug... offer is there when you are ready UC :p

by Leaf on Dec 28, 2009 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, what's the deal with that?

by nycchief on Dec 28, 2009 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

he also mentioned it in the offseason...wish I had a link

by SDChief on Dec 28, 2009 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

Do you think

that there might have been pressure coming from above him to give LJ a shot at redemption?

by mightykc on Dec 28, 2009 6:43 PM CST up reply actions

i agree

i think they had too much money wrapped up in 2.7, that they couldnt have him starting the season as a backup. I think they felt they needed to give him 1 more chance.

by banshee_01 on Dec 28, 2009 11:41 PM CST up reply actions

he wanted to run lj into the ground and not waste...

jc on a throw away season. this would keep him healthier in the long run and possibly keep his contract lower when he resigns.

by MountainManMike on Dec 28, 2009 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

personally i'm just happy that there's someone else that's worthy of the bowe treatment.

looks like benching charles earlier this season did great things. and we know, of course, that haley doesnt treat everyone like that. who was it that said something like “if he’s not yelling at you, you should be worried” in reference to haley? maybe someone from his cardinal squad?

anyways. i’m glad to hear that haley had interest in him pre-kc. gives me comfort somehow

if rhymes were valiums, i'd be comfortably numb

by Chris Sembower on Dec 28, 2009 5:15 PM CST reply actions

I thought the next big star on the Chiefs would be Bowe but...

Charles is the next rising star on this team.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 28, 2009 10:14 PM CST reply actions

Charles could be a huge star

And most importantly, I like his character and his attitude. He’s an extremely hard-working, team-oriented guy, much like Matt Cassel, and that’s what I want in Kansas City, no matter the record. I’d rather have a 3-12 team of high-character guys who play hard than a 12-3 team of thugs.

by HTrayne on Dec 29, 2009 6:03 AM CST reply actions